Election Roundup

Brgy Councilmen slam Rama for fistfight threat
Officials of the Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines (BCLP) in Cebu City have condemned mayor Michael Rama’s act of challenging their national president to a fist fight after he was barred from speaking on stage during the league’s city chapter assembly held on Sunday.

League officials described the mayor’s action as “tantamount to conduct unbecoming of a public official.”

Rep. Tomas Osmena of Cebu City’s south district said what Rama did was an act of “terrorism, a premeditated agitation.”

The BCLP resolution “condemns the act of Cebu City mayor Michael L. Rama for being tantamount to conduct unbecoming of a public official, for intimidating and challenging (the) national president and Cebu City president of the Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines (BCLP) Franklyn Ong to a fist fight.”

Rama said he was insulted because he was invited to the BCLP on his capacity as city mayor. He even had to be late to the birthday gathering of his cousin, Annabelle Rama, held at the Plaza Independencia because of the need to be at the SM Trade Hall./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

Rama lawyer complains of oversized bopk-Lp posters
A lawyer closely identified with reelectionist Mayor Michael Rama has asked the Commission on Elections in Cebu City to investigate the display of “oversized” campaign posters of Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan-Liberal party (BOPK-LP) candidates.

Joy Pesquera wrote Atty. Ferdinand Gujilde, south district election officer, to call his attention against the posters of BOPK candidates Margot Osmeña and Zenaida Amores which may Fair Elections Act.

“Both candidates hung over-sized tarpaulins above public roads, just outside the Don Sergio Osmeña Memorial National High School located in barangay Labangon,” said Pesquera’s April 30 complaint.

She said that section 6 of Comelec Resolution no. 9615 specifically states that campaign materials should not exceed two feet by three feet.

A second complaint which Pesquera, who is counsel for Team Rama and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) in Cebu City, filed before Gujilde’s office is on the display of “Type O” tarpaulins on public utility jeepneys.

Pesquera attached to her complaint a photograph of a PUJ with route no. 06C which ply the route from barangay Guadalupe to the Carbon Public Market.
“The same insignia has been used by the candidates of the Local Liberal party – BOPK as it appears in all their propaganda materials,” said Pesquera’s complaint./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

Lp rift in Lapu-Lapu goes to court
The rift of the administration Liberal Party (LP) in Lapu-Lapu City is going to court.

This as LP’s Lapu-Lapu congressional bet Angel Rodriguez sued LP mayoral bet Efrain Pelaez for estafa.

Rodriguez is accusing Pelaez of depositing in his personal account his contribution to their campaign kitty worth P250,000 instead of a joint account.
Pelaez said, he was not threatened of Rodriguez’s move but will answer it in proper forum.

“I have all the documents and accounting he needs as we have highly trained staff and CPAs who meticulously document the use of our LP funds.” Pelaez explained.
Pelaez booted out Rodriguez and six other city councilor bets from the LP ticket saying they have been expelled from the administration party.
Rodriguez however is denying their expulsion, calling Pelaez move a bluff./Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza